Southampton 1, Crawley ... didn't

Merlin returned to Crawley well rested following last week’s game at Bramshaw either being cancelled or moved to Nomansland depending on if you could crack Emmy’s enigma code. This week we had the option of calling the game off early as Crawley suffered a heavy downpour and the forecast was horrendous or we could head over anyway and try and squeeze a game in. Everybody (except Josh Street who managed to vote for both options) was convinced that the best thing to do was to try and get the game on, especially if it meant Lee Seal only got 2 hours sleep for no reason. Conditions changed throughout the day, some periods of genuine sunshine, some periods of genuine monsoon but most of the day can be described as almost not raining which is about the best as we could hope for.

A 30 over a side game was decided, after winning the toss skipper Barlow decided with dark clouds overhead, a strong wind and a wet pitch that Merlin would of course bat first and Eddy would open despite not seeing a cricket ground for months.

With Hastie, they put on a comfortable 50 run partnership before Jake was caught and Josh Street fell LBW to the bowling of Williams. Edwards went on to score 66 in the end, a score probably worth 100 if the outfield wasn’t piss wet through or if he was capable of laying bat on any bowling on his legs. Regular Merlin tormentor West trapped Sean Kelly in front, a decision that Sean agreed with completely and wasn’t mentioned again for the rest of the day. Bristow also triggered Isaac in another shameful attempt to force himself up the batting order but both Dunc and Danny’s multiple(!) leaves in the last few overs meant Merlin coasted to 130/6 - much to the joy of Lee who had rushed to pad up only to watch nothing happen for 3 overs.

There was an outstanding tea between innings, it was even heard from a couple of Merlin’s most experienced eaters that it might be pushing Wield for top spot! Homemade quiche, homemade sausage rolls and egg sandwiches that Woody could only dream of whilst paying £8 for a pint for Wembley.

Couple of showers during tea and early in the second innings didn’t stop help Crawley as the already slow outfield and pitch took another beating. After arguing about which end was actually downhill; Emmy bowled literally thousands of dots and took the wickets of James Duff Sr and G Cummins (not him) in the process before wrapping up like an Eskimo for the rest of the afternoon. Seal from the other end bowled well and was unlucky to only pick up the one wicket. Isaac suffering from an ankle issue only bowled the one over before the heavens opened again. Unfortunately the pressing issue of the game being rained off meant that we could no longer pretend that Steve wasn’t playing in an effort to keep his hands off the player of the year award for the 15th season in a row. Barlow brought himself on from the other end and Merlin’s top 2 wicket takers of the last decade added another 4 to the tally between them.

Dunc replaced Nathan, not happy with just completing the best bit of fielding all day (a running Bergkamp-esque flick up with the boot, straight into the hand and thrown into the bowler’s end in one motion) Dunc decided it was about time we got a grip of the run rate and bowled just dots for what felt like an eternity. Whilst we’re on the subject of things that went on and on for ages - Danny Charrett. By this stage it was clear Southampton had clung on in the playoff final and Danny only took a break from repeatedly saying either just the words “Premier league” or screaming for some of the most revolting LBW appeals you’d ever see to bowl 3 pretty tidy overs and ironically forget to appeal for his wicket that actually was out. Josh Street managed to pick up the last batter in the final over meaning Merlin ran out winners by almost 100 runs despite only scoring 130!

The obligatory trip to a closed pub that we seem to do a few times every year as tradition followed. Over to Coombe Bissett next week - something tells me 33 might not be enough there!